Connacht Team Talk Thread VI - Some like it TOH

kita99

I agree above. And one more surprise was Barrett' briliant performance. He droped opponent LH twice in the scrum.(although the opponent LH was the player from their bench,maybe he has had some professsional experience in France.) And Barrett ran above 20 metre carrying the ball. In forrmer match, I watched that he jackaled. I feel huge possibility in him. He looks yet to enter into connacht academy(no name in the connacht HP), will he come to here? If he can increase hismascl weight by + 10kg, he could become in squads of Ireland imo.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120854373#Comment_120854373

Has he played much 13? Surprised the 20s didn't try him there. Definitely seems to have the defensive ability, decision making, and skills. Doesn't seem to be as athletic as the likes of Jennings and Gavin though. Hard to see where his senior minutes will come from in the short term with 7 centres in the senior squad.

You'd imagine Matthew will see some game time this season, especially if Blade goes to the WC. Will have to see how McDonald goes, he's a bit of an unknown quantity, but would rather development minutes went to a contracted player rather than a loanee generally.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120857111#Comment_120857111

He may have joined the academy mid season after the squad announcement, but doubtful as Mullins and Gavin joined mid season and were added to the academy page on the Connacht website, which seems to be kept up to date quite well. Definitely a big prospect and has only been playing front row for two seasons, converted from back row in 21/22 IIRC. A few seasons of S&C and scrummaging reps in AIL/A games against adults will do him a lot of good. Hopefully Sam Illo will likely be more involved at senior level with Bealham going to France, so there should be game time available at Buccs should they send him there. Main work on for me would be adding some pre contact footwork but plenty of time for that. Our biggest tighthead prospect in a long time IMO.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120858385#Comment_120858385

He has played 13 outside Forde for Corinthians anyways, not the highest of standards though. Definitely can’t see him getting a run at 12 with Bundee, Forde, Hawkshaw and Daly all ahead of him.

lostboy75

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120858404#Comment_120858404

'with Bealham going to France' brief moment of panic when I read that initially, but quickly realised it was due to world cup! 😳

ElisaAtWar

Could someone provide a bit of clarity on the method of how a scrum half feeds into a scrum. Just looking at The Pumas vs The Wallabies. It's very clear that the scrum half feeds the ball to his own side. Is it not the case that the ball should be fed centrally into the scrum. And if that is the case why are referees not all over this

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120860101#Comment_120860101

Ball has to be straight but the scrumhalf's shoulder is allowed to align with the centre of the scrum.

This means that a straight feed is heavily in favor of the team in possession.

ElisaAtWar

If I'm reading you correctly the team awarded the scrum can throw the ball in in the direction of the two centres associated with the team that has won the scrum? Is that what you mean. If that is the case how can this be considered central to the scrum?

sydthebeat

The scrum half shoulder can be at the centre of the scrum, so the scrum halfs head can be a shoulder width from the centre line.

The ball still has to be thrown in straight

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120857111#Comment_120857111

He is a big athletic dude. I’d be pretty excited about him. He could easily be one of the best guys in this year in 3/4 years.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861120#Comment_120861120

Would agree with this, think his lack of experience at scrummaging came against him in terms of starting when McCarthy moved to loosehead, but he was picked ahead of foxe on the bench continuously. Think he’ll need a year or two before he’ll break through, would even love him to get a loan to the championship or pro D2

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861254#Comment_120861254

This is an interesting idea, especially with the current lack of an A competition to get reps in. Ultimately, I don't think it makes sense to take a player out of our environment and put him in one with inferior coaching, facilities, S&C, nutrition, analysis, etc. I believe Sean O'Brien scoffed at this very idea when put to him regarding Leinster younger fringe players. All signs point to Colm Tucker being an excellent scrum and contact skills coach, and those are the core skills for a young tighthead imo. Education is also an important part of the academy and moving abroad would disrupt that.

Of course, there is a value to game time, but ultimately players spend far more time training on pitch, in the gym, and in analysis sessions, that they do playing matches. There is probably more precedent for transferring him to a Dublin or Limerick based AIL 1A team. I believe Stephen Kerins moved from Corinthians to one of the Limerick clubs at one point, and some of the lads who sign from Leinster stay with their home club. There probably isn't much benefit to him playing in 2C with Ballina.

Wegians89

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120861806#Comment_120861806

He’s actually already with Corinthians, but I still think that is a level too low. In general I’d agree that keeping players in the system would be better but for this unique case I think exposure to nasty front row battles would be best. Maybe even a short 3 month loan could hit the spot. He doesn’t have the years at underage a normal prop would have.

Zeugnis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120858404#Comment_120858404

This tweet from Connacht states that Barrett is in the Academy:

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1633864852065370112

The Academy page is not up to date, for example De Buitlear is now on a senior contract.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862661#Comment_120862661

Forgot he was with Corinthians . I have watched a lot of 2B (Wegians man) and agree that it's not a high enough level. Probably less of a big deal for a scrum half, where the focus is more so on the repeated execution of skills and decision making, but a front row is not going to be sufficiently tested and the step up from 2B to URC would be extremely steep. Lots of good props in 1A though. Your last point is a very fair one, will be interesting to track his development in any case.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120862860#Comment_120862860

Noticed that at the time but thought it may be shorthand for sub academy, as the vast majority of the people viewing that tweet would not know or care about the distinction between sub and full academy, and the author may not either to be frank. We'll find out when the full academy is announced, hopefully a bit earlier this year..

evil_seed

New kit being released next week.

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/connachtrugby/status/1686648132489089025?t=JQXIYruL5wHQPTzU54P5EA&s=19

I like That

FACECUTTR

Looks good !

Shehal

New kit company aswell I believe, first Irish team to go with Macron I think.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120929685#Comment_120929685

Yeah new company for an Irish team. No harm. Blk kit was nice but all too often there were issues especially round delivery on time etc. Hopefully that's much better now

SqueakyKneecap

The sleeves are shocking tbh. Can't say I rate it.

CuriousCucumber

Looks like the Meath football jersey.

Hopefully these have some nice casual gear

connachta

Cordero to start vs S-Af

touch-n-go to be in the Argentine 31 for RWC

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120938125#Comment_120938125

He might make the 33

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120938622#Comment_120938622

Cut is 33? Wasn't it 31 in RWC 19?

Jump_In_Jack

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120942264#Comment_120942264

Yeah, it went up to 33 for this World Cup.

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120942291#Comment_120942291

Cordero won't go anyway after tonight, if 33 Prendergast may though

Wegians89

Prendergasts two caps for Ireland have come off the bench at lock and 7. Really giving himself a chance at the World Cup squad with that kind of versatility.

I think it might come down to if Ireland want to bring an extra back row or outside back

connachta

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120945433#Comment_120945433

Coombes left out then, and still is there a spot for both Prendergast and McCarthy? (Baird included).

If Conan is out yes, if not...

Lost Ormond

Adam Byrne retiring. Shame he couldn't get over the injuries n

Just never got to really show his potential